(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission

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(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission

• (State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
• Great River Road National Scenic Byway

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Agenda

• History of the National MRPC
• Current Vision, Mission, Objectives and Goals of
  the National MRPC
• (State) Commission
• History
• Members
• Structure
• Goals
• Accomplishments
• Work Plan
• Significant sites

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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History of the MRPC

• Created in 1938
• 10 individual state commissions

Arkansas Minnesota
Iowa Missouri
Illinois Mississippi
Kentucky Tennessee
Louisiana Wisconsin
(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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History of the MRPC

• Mission in 1938
• Facilitate the development of highways and
  amenities along the byway called the Great River
  Road.
• Promote tourism along the Mississippi River.

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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History of the MRPC

• The MRPC was developed to create a parkway on
  both sides of the river from Lake Itasca to the
  Gulf of Mexico.
• Planning, design and construction of the Great
  River Road was put on hold until after World War
  II.
• In 1949, Congress authorized a study of the Great
  River Road.
• Funds were allocated to each state based on
  several factors including the amount of road in
  each state.

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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History of the MRPC

• 1973 - the Federal Highway Act authorized funding
  to develop a single national route on one side of
  the river, alternating between the east and west
  sides of the river.
• 1985 The commission began working with the 10
  state tourism offices to launch an international
  marketing program. This would develop into
  Mississippi River Country, USA.
• 1986 - categorical funds expired.
• The Great River Road competed with all other
  highway projects for funds.
• ISTEA and TEA-21 - Scenic Byways

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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National MRPC Structure
(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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Current Vision, Mission and Objectives

• Vision/Mission
• To improve the quality of life for our residents
  and visitors.
• Objectives
• To develop and enhance the Great River Road and
  its amenities.
• To promote the Mississippi River Valley and the
  Great River Road.

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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Current Goals

• Increase and maintain the investment in the Great
  River Road and its amenities each year through
  2008.
• Achieve a National Scenic Byway designation for
  all ten states of the Great River Road by the end
  of 2008.
• Maintain and/or increase the awareness and
  visitation of the Mississippi River Valley and
  the Great River Road each year through 2008.

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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Great River Road Interpretive Plan and Centers

• The MRPC has develop a Great River Road
  Interpretive Plan and Tool Kit which will be used
  by the MRPC, communities and attractions along
  the river to effectively interpret the many
  stories told along the river. The plan will be
  adopted at this meeting.
• Currently there are over 50 Interpretive Centers
  along the Great River Road.
• These centers were selected by the Culture and
  Heritage Committee as sites significant in
  interpreting important aspects of the river and
  Great River Road.

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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Legislative Objectives

• Secure State and National Scenic Byway
  designation for all segments of the Great River
  Road by the end of 2008.
• Develop and implement an education and
  information program for elected and appointed
  officials along the Great River Road
• Secure funding for implementing the Great River
  Road Interpretive Plan. 2.5 million
• Maintain a merit based Scenic Byways program as
  part of the Transportation reauthorization
  legislation being developed federally.

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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(State) MRPC

• History

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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(State) MRPC Members

• Members
• Technical members

(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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(State) MRPC Structure
(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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(State) MRPC Goals
(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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(State) MRPC Accomplishments
(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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(State) Work Plan
(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission
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(State) MRPC Significant Sites
(State) Mississippi River Parkway Commission